Pacers need overtime to best Mavs
INDIANAPOLIS Myles Turner scored 30 points, tied his career high with 16 rebounds and made a 3-pointer with 1:18 left in overtime to start an 8-0 run that allowed the Indiana Pacers to close out a 130121 victory Wednesday night over the Dallas Mavericks.
Three-time All-Star Paul George added 25 points, including another 3 with 55 seconds left to seal Indiana’s fifth season-opening win in six years.
Deron Williams scored 25 points, while J.J. Barea and Dirk Nowitzki each added 22 as the Mavs lost their fifth straight in the series. They still haven’t won in Indianapolis since February 2014.
Dallas didn’t tie the score or take a lead until the fourth quarter, yet still forced overtime when Harrison Barnes’ open 3-pointer made it 115-all with 2.3 seconds left.
NUGGETS 107, PELICANS 102
NEW ORLEANS — Jusuf Nurkic scored 23 points, Will Barton added 22, and the Nuggets survived a dominant performance by Anthony Davis to defeat the Pelicans.
HORNETS 107, BUCKS 96
MILWAUKEE — Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had 23 points and 14 rebounds in his return from a shoulder injury, Roy Hibbert added 15 points, and the Hornets opened their season with a victory over the Bucks.
HEAT 108, MAGIC 96
ORLANDO, Fla. — Miami centre Hassan White had 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots and point guard Goran Dragic added 16 points as the Heat cruised to a season-opening victory over the Magic.
CELTICS 122, NETS 117
BOSTON — Isaiah Thomas had 25 points and nine assists, Jae Crowder added 21 points and Al Horford pitched in 11 in his Boston debut as the Celtics survived a late scare to beat the Nets.
GRIZZLIES 102, TIMBERWOLVES 98
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Mike Conley scored 24 points, Marc Gasol added 18 and the Grizzlies overcame a slow start for a victory over the Timberwolves.
THUNDER 103, 76ERS 97
PHILADELPHIA — Russell Westbrook had 32 points, 12 rebounds and took over late to lead the Thunder to a victory over the 76ers.
Westbrook scored the decisive points on opening night for the Thunder in their first game since franchise star Kevin Durant left in free agency and signed with the Golden State Warriors.
Joel Embiid scored 20 points in 22 minutes in his first game for the Sixers since they made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft. Embiid had sat out the last two seasons with foot injuries. He received a roaring ovation when he was introduced and fans went wild on every shot.